Prevalence and Distribution Pattern of Sarcocystis spp. in Camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Tambool Slaughterhouse

Abstract

Sarcocystis spp. are zoonotic cyst-forming coccidian parasites that prevalent in livestock all around the world. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence as well as distribution pattern of Sarcocystis spp. Infection in camels slaughtered in Tambool slaughterhouse- eastern Sudan.Meat samples(oesoghagus, diaphragm, heart, tongue and thigh muscles) were collected from 200 slaughtered camels during ten months (March – December 2015). 52.4% of examined samples were positive for bradyzoites of the parasites using pepsindigestion method while Sarcocystis cysts were detected in 27% of examined histopathological samples. The distribution patterns of Sarcocystiscystswere148 (74%) oesophagus, 141 (70.5%) diaphragm, 11o (55%) heart, 74 (37%) tongue, 51 (25.5%) thigh muscle. Oesophagus was the most infected organ among the examined samples. The difference in prevalence rates between the two used techniques may be due to the very small portions examined in histopathology..............